Subnautica 2 will seemingly be self-published by Unknown Worlds Entertainment, as any mention of Krafton has been removed from the game’s Steam and Epic Games Store pages as of this writing. Although Krafton still owns Unknown World Entertainment, Krafton’s removal from the Subnautica 2 store listings is likely part of the fallout of a legal battle involving the two companies.
The news came after a lawsuit filed by the former leaders of Unknown Worlds, including Max McGuire and Ted Gill, against Krafton for wrongful termination. Along with the leadership changes, Subnautica 2‘s early access was delayed. During the proceedings, it was revealed that Krafton had reportedly used ChatGPT for advice on how to avoid paying out a $250 million bonus to the Subnautica 2 development team, should they reach their internal release goals. A judge ruled in favor of Unknown Worlds and overturned the initial firing of Gill and his colleagues.
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Unknown Worlds May Self-Publish Subnautica 2 Moving Forward
Despite Krafton’s defeat in court, Subnautica 2 is seemingly not done making changes. The Epic Games Store and Steam listings for Subnautica 2 have removed Krafton as the game’s publisher, with Unknown Worlds listed as its developer and publisher. Despite Krafton still owning Unknown Worlds, it is currently unclear why or when the changes on both store pages were made. As of this writing, Subnautica 2 is still stated to launch in early access sometime in 2026. However, this loose release window contradicts a previous statement from the current leader of Unknown Worlds, Steve Papoutsis, who said that Subnautica 2 would enter early access in May 2026. It remains to be seen if the May 2026 early access window for Subnautica 2 will stick, or if more changes will be made.
Along with Krafton being ordered to reinstate Ted Gill as Unknown Worlds CEO as part of the court’s ruling, Krafton was ordered to honor its $250 million payout of bonuses to the development team at Unknown Worlds. Though Krafton disagreed with the ruling, the company stated that it would continue working with Unknown Worlds. With Gill replacing Papoutsis in the future, time will tell what changes will be made to Subnautica 2‘s development, and how much Krafton will be involved going forward.
Subnautica 2 Still Faces Murky Waters
After it was discovered that Subnautica 2 had removed Krafton as the publisher on Steam, users took to social media to share that they had put Subnautica 2 on their wish lists as a way to support Unknown Worlds following the Krafton lawsuit. Given that Krafton previously pitched itself as an “AI-first company” that owned Unknown Worlds and other studios, the declaration left a sour taste in the mouths of gamers across the world.
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With various biomes and monsters to discover in Subnautica 2, the game is shaping up to be an unforgettable adventure for players to undertake. Although it is not clear how much involvement Krafton will have with Subnautica 2, the publisher’s removal from its Steam and Epic Games Store pages may be a sign of things to come.
Source: TheGamer
